Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The focus of this measure is on the sector rather than the individual. If somebody needs to paint his or her house and will do so anyway, there is no additionality. The reason we are not going for small, low cost jobs is many of them would not involve additional work that could be incentivised under the scheme. It would be work homeowners would carry out anyway and, as the focus is on the sector, we need to incentivise additional work by offering tax credits.

I listened to the arguments in the other House about the level at which the threshold should be set. I moved it down by changing the way VAT would apply. On budget day we were proposing a minimum threshold of €5,675, inclusive of VAT, but that has since been reduced to €5,000, inclusive of VAT. I listened to the arguments and made an adjustment to the threshold. I also clarified that jobs could be accumulated to reach the new threshold of €5,000. Taking everything into account, we have pitched it at the right level.